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A grim looking Jeff Cummins, head coach for Acadia, seen when the score was 55-0 in the 1st half vs the Western Mustangs during one-sided Uteck Bowl action. (TIM KROCHAK Staff)

A grim looking Jeff Cummins, head coach for Acadia, seen when the score was 55-0 in the 1st half vs the Western Mustangs during one-sided Uteck Bowl action. (TIM KROCHAK Staff)

The Western Mustangs football machine rolled through Wolfville and left the Acadia Axemen in its dust.

Now it’s full steam ahead to the Vanier Cup.

The Mustangs scored on their first eight possessions, led by 57 at the half and, when the dust settled, cruised to an 81-3 record-breaking dismantling of the host Axemen in the Uteck Bowl national semifinal Saturday afternoon in Wolfville.

Western advances to the Vanier Cup national championship against the defending U Sports champion Laval Rouge et Or, Nov. 25 in Hamilton, Ont. Laval defeated the Calgary Dinos 35-23 in the Mitchell Bowl later Saturday.

“I’m excited; a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Western running back Cedric Joseph said. “The boys have been working hard all season. The scoreboard shows all the hard work and preparation that we’ve put in. We’ll wake up tomorrow and start getting ready for the Vanier.”

Acadia was coming off a short rest after winning the once-cancelled Loney Bowl in double overtime over the Saint Mary’s Huskies on Tuesday. But whether it was three days off or three weeks, the Axemen didn’t have an answer for the Mustangs’ dominating rushing attack.

Fifth-year defensive tackle Adam Melanson wasn’t using the lack of prep time as an excuse for the setback.

“We just couldn’t handle them today,” said the Atlantic conference first-team all-star from Kentville. “They are a really talented team. They’re a really awesome football team, by far the best competition we have faced. They win by 35 points on average for a reason.”

The nation’s No. 2-ranked Mustangs — which improves to 11-0 on the season — set a Uteck Bowl record for points, easily eclipsing the 60 points Saint Mary’s amassed in 2003 against Simon Fraser.

Western gathered 472 yards to Acadia’s 61 in the first half alone, didn’t allow the Axemen past centre in the first 30 minutes and didn’t punt the ball in the half. The only thing that stopped the Mustangs was the clock when time ran out in the first half.

Western, which had more touchdowns (11) than Acadia had first downs (10), finished the game with 689 total yards, including 451 on the ground.

In the Mustangs’ three playoff games, they have outscored their opponents 222-47. Joseph, who earned the Yates Cup conference championship MVP in Western’s 75-32 rout of Laurier on Nov. 11, rushed for three touchdowns in the first half on Saturday, to give him 10 in the post-season. He led the Ontario conference with 10 touchdowns during the regular season.

Joseph became the No. 1 option in the Mustangs’ backfield after Alex Taylor, who finished second in the OUA in yards per game (118.7), went down with a knee injury.

“I’m just getting the opportunities,” Joseph, who rushed 13 times for 100 yards in the Uteck Bowl, said of his recent stellar play.

“Unfortunately our starting running back Alex Taylor came down with a knee injury and coach called on me to step up to the plate and deliver.

“Being around the guys and the group of running backs that we have, we have each other’s backs. They’ve been supporting me the whole way through. I love playing the game of football and it’s easy when I have a monstrous O-line up front that make me look good. They make my job a whole lot easier.”

A stout starting offensive line that nearly averages 300 pounds would be a difficult test for any defence.

“They’re big, they work together well, they sustain their blocks,” Melanson said of the Western offensive line which features four conference all-stars (tackle David Brown, centre Mark Wheatley and guards Matt Bettencourt and Gregoire Bouchard).

“It was so hard to get off blocks on some plays. They’re so good, well-coached. They’re top three in the country for a reason.”

And they opened up room for Western’s triumvirate of scurrying running backs in Joseph, Yannick Harou and Trey Humes.

Harou rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns, while Humes — No. 4 on the depth chart — had game-high 172 yards on 15 carries and one major.

“We compliment each other real nice,” Joseph said of his fellow backs.

“It’s a great a little clique that we have going on. We’re supportive of each other. If one goes down or one gets bumped up, we’re always picking each other up and staying positive toward each other. We’re a big family.”

Western quarterback Chris Merchant, who earned Uteck Bowl MVP honours, was 10-for-11 for 200 yards and two touchdown passes. He also ran for 54 yards and a pair of TDs.

His counterpart — Acadia fifth-year pivot Cody Cluett — was 15-for-25 for 181 yards but was picked off three times.

Acadia’s only score came with 6:54 remaining in the game when Jarett Saumure was successful on a 27-yard field goal which drew a loud ovation from the 2,815 in attendance at Raymond Field.

Melanson, like Cluett, was playing in his final university game. He said the lopsided result wouldn’t put a damper on a successful and enjoyable U Sports career.

“I had a great career here and to play with my hometown team and to play my last game in front of the home crowd — I had a lot of friends and family here — it meant a lot,” Melanson said.

“Obviously it didn’t end the way I wanted to but I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of my teammates. I had a good career and I had a lot of fun.”